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Themes in the ministers black veil by nathaniel hawthorne

Themes in The
Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Like many writers
of his time, Hawthorne emphasized man's inner reality, and those thoughts and
feelings which are not immediately apparent. As he explored this internal
nature, he not only found the source of dignity and virtue, but also certain
elements of darkness and violence. In The Minister's Black Veil, these elements
are treated as real and inescapable forces in human existence. The unifying
theme is the conflict between the dark, hidden side of man and the standards
imposed by his puritanical heritage, and the psychological and practical
implications of this conflict. Hawthorne brings evil and unauthorized desire
into the circuit of puritan life, and thereby conveys a profound truth that is
disturbing in its implication, namely that we can never hope to know each
other's true selves. The themes in the story are suggested by the veil-symbol,
the tension between the minister and the community, and the use of pro-Freudian
psychological analysis.

The symbolic
significance of the black veil lies in the physical and mental barrier that it
creates between the minister and his environment, and the guilt that it
expresses. Many people believe that the face provides information about a
person's underlying characteristics and, therefore, about his or her probable
behavior. Thus, by wearing the veil, the minister takes away the basis on which
people can predict his behavior. This is the main cause of the minister's
isolation, although he is made unpredictable already by the mere act of wearing
the veil. Part of the frightening effect of the veil derives from the knowledge
that the person behind it can see everything without being seen himself:

"Each member
of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast,
felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind this awful veil, and
discovered their hoarded inequity of deed or thought."

Because the
members of the congregation cannot see where their minister is looking, they
imagine that they are being observed more closely than usual. This notion is
strengthened by the subject of the sermon, which "had reference to secret
sin, and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest".
Thus, the minister takes on the role of "the Omniscient" (God), whose
investigating glance can penetrate even the deepest mysteries of the human
soul. More importantly, the wearing of the veil is a confession of guilt. Being
a traditional example for the community, the minister thus implies that
everyone should do the same. Important themes in relation to this are the the
problem of sin, and guilt which is admitted openly vs. guilt which is
hidden.

The alienation of
the minister is emphasized through the use of explicit and implicit tensions
involving the minister and his environment. Before the entering of the
minister, the environment is described using adjectives like "bright"
and "pretty". After the minister appears in his veil, typical adjectives
include "darkened", "gloomy", and "quiet". This
contrast reflects one of the most important themes in the story, namely light
vs. dark. Although the word "light" implies positive themes, it is
important to note that Hawthorne is not praising the puritan lifestyle. On the
contrary, he is criticizing a society which can be so intolerant of individuals
who have slipped from the path of virtue, and seems deeply concerned with the
increasing discipline exercised over selves in order to live up to the
collective identity of puritan America. This is evident in the more implicit
conflict between the individual and society, which includes themes such as
integrity vs. hypocrisy and free will vs. conformity.

The general
conflict between puritanism and instinct reinforces the notion that humans are
dualistic, with an innate, dark side and an internalized, moralistic side. For
those familiar with the personality theory of Freud, this interpretation of the
tale will sound tired, although it is probably the one that best matches Hawthorne's
point of view. According to this line of thought, the "darkness" that
Hawthorne describes is a natural part of the personality. However, because of
social pressures, it rarely enters awareness other than in some misinterpreted
form. When the minister acknowledges the darkness in himself, he breaks the
barrier that protects his conscious self from his unacceptable, repressed self.
This barrier is incarnated in the veil, which is the transferred expression of
hidden sin.

The parishioners
represent the conscious part of the personality, which includes the morals and
values dictated by society. To avoid threatening perceptions from entering
consciousness, they use different defense mechanisms. The diversity of these
defense mechanisms is demonstrated by the reactions to the minister's sermon
(page 3). Some people look for means of evaluating the situation, such as the
presence of others. Others attempt to distract themselves from their thoughts,
by talking and laughing loudly. A third group of people deny or distort their
experiencing of the situation.

Although written
160 years ago, The Minister's Black Veil is still relevant in both theme and
attitude. The black veil is a symbol, something that Hawthorne uses to stand
for the impassable barrier between all human souls. What he is trying to say is
that each of us wears his own "black veil". Nevertheless, if we are
willing to acknowledge the darkness in ourselves,

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